Community

Death of Angelo Quinto, Who Died Like George Floyd, Haunts Filipino American Family

The full Quinto story broke around the time of the Tiger Woods accident. Everyone knows about Woods’ roll-over in Southern California that nearly killed him. Thankfully, he’ll walk again. Angelo Quinto won’t.

Published

5 years ago

March 11, 2021

Kiki

Angelo Quinto, courtesy NY Times

George Floyd is back in the public eye as the Minneapolis trial begins with jury selection. That should be good news for one Filipino American family preparing to sue the City of Antioch for the wrongful death of their son, Angelo Quinto.

If you don’t know who Angelo Quinto is by now, copy a link to this column right now and send to all your friends. Everyone needs to know about Angelo Quinto.

Woods, you see, wasn’t the only Asian American who deserved some headlines. Sure, Quinto got local coverage in the San Francisco Bay Area and mentions on a few internet outlets after what happened to him was finally released.

But his story deserved more, especially when people understand that he died the “George Floyd way.”

Floyd, as we know, was the African American man, handcuffed behind his back, facedown, as an officer put a knee to the back of his neck for nearly nine minutes. He died on May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis.

Quinto, an Asian American of Filipino descent, was handcuffed behind his back, facedown, as an officer put a knee to the back of his neck for over five minutes.

That’s according to his mother and sister, who saw it all play out in a San Francisco East Bay suburb last Dec. 23.

Five minutes was enough to kill Quinto.

Quinto, a 30-year-old U.S. Navy veteran born in the Philippines, was at his family’s home in Antioch, California, when he experienced what has been described as a mental health episode.

Quinto’s 18-year-old sister, Bella Collins, said she called 911 for help when she saw Quinto holding their mother and feared he would hurt her. She said her brother was dishonorably discharged from the Navy in 2019 due to food allergies but had suffered from depression. She said that after her brother was in an altercation and hospitalized in 2020; he had moments of paranoia and anxiety.

As they all waited for help that night just days before Christmas, Quinto’s mother, Cassandra Quinto-Collins, says she hugged her son and tried to calm him down.

Then the police arrived.

Quinto-Collins described her son’s reaction when the police arrived: “[Angelo] said, ‘Please don’t kill me. Please don’t kill me,’ as they were putting him on the ground. They handcuffed him and one officer put his knee on the back of his neck the whole time I was in the room.”

The family’s lawyer, local civil rights attorney John Burris, said Quinto was “snatched” from his mom. Quinto’s sister said one officer held him by the legs while another knelt on Quinto’s neck for nearly five minutes.

In a videotape released by the family’s attorney, Quinto can be seen unconscious on a bedroom floor, his face bloodied. You can see him handcuffed from behind his back as police tried to assess the situation. After a minute, Quinto was carried out on a plastic sheet into a hallway. After another minute, finally an attempt was made to resuscitate him.

“Does he have a pulse, what is happening?” Quinto’s mother could be heard saying. The responders could be heard pumping Angelo Quinto’s chest in vain.

Quinto-Collins later expressed her shock. “I trusted the police because I thought they knew what they were doing, but he was actually passive and visibly not dangerous or a threat. So, it was absolutely unnecessary what they did to him,” she said.

Angelo was unconscious when taken to the hospital and died three days later on Dec. 26.

It’s remarkable how the story had been kept under wraps for nearly two months. Not a peep from the police. Even the mayor of Antioch said he hadn’t heard about it until he saw it on social media.

It shouldn’t be that way.

We only heard about it because the family’s legal counsel, led by Burris, announced on Feb. 18, that a claim had been filed against the Antioch Police Department. The city now has 45 days to respond before wrongful death and civil rights lawsuits are filed on behalf of Quinto, his mother, and his sister.

How Quinto died makes this case important not just to Antioch, but to the nation.

“I refer to it as the George Floyd technique; that’s what snuffed the life out of him and that cannot be a lawful technique,” Burris said, indicating the similarities between Quinto’s death and the death of Floyd, a Black man who yelled, “I can’t breathe” as a police officer placed a knee to his neck.

“We know the young man’s dead as a consequence of police activity,” Burris said, adding that officers didn’t have to “snatch him from his mother’s person,” but rather talk to him in order to de-escalate the situation. “All they had to do is follow the rules.”

But they didn’t. And that’s why this story must be heard.

People call for de-funding the police, but that doesn’t address some underlying problems. Police need retraining, so that they can gauge a situation and be a respectful presence rather than a disruptive one that only makes things worse.

Given the range of issues officers face, from domestic violence to mental health, police need to be better problem solvers, rather than just crime-busters, maybe someone who is a combination EMT/psychologist/cop.

Angelo Quinto’s life depended on that new model of policing, that new kind of cop. The ones that didn’t show up in Antioch the night of Dec. 23.

So, let’s hope Quinto’s case gains more media attention, an important factor in the quest for justice. The family’s attorney Burris, an African American, said winning that fight will take a community to “rise up” and ask the uncomfortable questions of people in power. “Like the late great John Lewis would say, ‘Make good trouble,’” Burris said as he stood with the family in front of gift-wrapped boxes–Angelo Quinto’s unopened Christmas presents.

“That’s what we intend to do,” he said

This isn’t just a local Bay Area story. This is a national story that goes beyond the Filipino American community.

But are we going to, in the words of Burris, “Rise up?”

Together?

Professor Daniel Phil Gonzales of San Francisco State University mentioned in my podcast, “Emil Amok’s Takeout,” something rarely mentioned. There is a gnawing sense that racism in the Filipino American community toward others, specifically Blacks, prevents a united community outrage. Gonzales’ students say they recognize it among older generations. Is it true that the Filipino American community is too insular to join in coalition with others like the #BLM movement to create that “good trouble” that might bring justice to all?

Gonzales said the Japanese American community is one of the rare examples of Asian Americans to reach out to fight injustice along race lines, mostly due to their WW2 incarceration experience.

They shouldn’t be the only ones.

I’ve told the community that at the very least we need to let people know that a Filipino American has been a victim of police and has died in the manner of George Floyd, handcuffed with a policeman’s knee to the back of his neck. That means what happens to Angelo Quinto’s case is the true test of the value of being Filipino in America.

But it’s also a test if a true sense of solidarity can really exist among all people of color.

George Floyd’s trial is a reminder that he is the rallying call for all of us seeking justice and the modernization of policing in America.

George Floyd? Angelo Quinto? Common ground.

Emil Guillermo is a veteran Bay Area journalist and commentator. See his vlog on www.amok.com or on Facebook/Emil Guillermo.Media.

Kiki

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Business

Gov. Gavin Newsom Signs Law Streamlining Affordable Housing Rules

The legislation builds on the governor’s efforts that have reversed decades of inaction on housing and homelessness — creating more homes and the largest reduction in unsheltered homelessness in more than 15 years.

Published

23 hours ago

July 24, 2026

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From left to right: Jesse Arreguín, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Sharon Quirk Silva, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, and Janelle Chan. Photo courtesy Sarah Henry.

In Oakland on July 13, Gov. Newsom signed AB 179 — the state’s new housing budget trailer bill that cuts red tape, modernizes how California finances affordable housing, and lowers the cost of building a unit by up to $70,000.

Oakland is the first pro-housing city in the Bay Area, and it’s not slowing down. Oakland is cutting through bureaucracy, unlocking new financing, and clearing the path for more affordable homes to get built faster.

Special thanks to East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBADC), State Assemblymember Sharon Quirk Silva, and California Housing and Community Development Director Gustavo Velasquez.

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Commentary

Volunteer Work for Black Americans Pays Off By Helping Others and Building Portfolios

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Volunteer work can be personally fulfilling and can even benefit your professional life. Learn about the perks of dedicating your time to helping others here.

Published

2 days ago

July 23, 2026

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Volunteer work can pay off for Black Americans by letting them experience personal fulfillment as they reach out, interact with, and help others in need. The charity work they engage in, whether it’s leadership, mentorship, or organizational roles, can also help them build their professional portfolio.

All those positive impacts, combined with the potential health and wellness benefits of volunteering, can help explain why many Americans engage in charitable work.

Per the latest U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps’ biennial civic engagement survey, over 75.7 million Americans 16 years+ formally volunteered through an organization from September 2022 to September 2023. They dedicated 4.99 billion hours, which had an economic value of over $167.2 billion.

What Are the Primary Types of Volunteer Work?

There are several primary types of volunteer work, usually categorized based on commitment structure and type of volunteer services rendered. Three of the most common categories include: formal, informal, and skills-based volunteering.

Formal Volunteering

Formal volunteering involves partnering with a trustworthy, reputable, and licensed volunteer organization. It’s a highly structured approach, requiring dedicated commitment from volunteers and their chosen charitable nonprofit organization.

Formal charity workers can engage in opportunities that involve volunteering overseas, interstate, or locally. They undergo training, adhere to specific guidelines, and usually work on scheduled shifts.

Informal Volunteering

Informal volunteer opportunities are casual, flexible, and unstructured acts of kindness. They present themselves outside of formal organizational structures, directly benefiting recipients. They can be sudden and random or scheduled.

Skills-Based Volunteering

Skills-based volunteering gives professionals the chance to leverage their specialized trade, expertise, or talents to help individuals or organizations. With their help, nonprofits can save money and use the funds to support more charitable work.

What Are Examples of Volunteer Work?

A popular and common example of volunteer work is a food bank. Volunteers here can play various roles, including:

Cooks
Servers
Sorters
Inspectors
Drivers

Being a food bank volunteer is a type of formal volunteering. The food bank, in turn, is the nonprofit charitable organization that volunteers work with.

You can also find volunteer work in many other sectors, from childcare to healthcare, as noted by Involvement Volunteers International. Nonprofits also offer opportunities in community and education outreach programs.

As for informal volunteering, it can be something as simple yet impactful as running errands (e.g., mowing the lawn or picking up groceries) for a neighbor who’s older or has an injury or disability. It can also involve organizing a neighborhood cleanup or checking in on home-bound community members.

Members of the Black community interested in sharing their expertise may explore skills-based volunteering, too. One example is providing pro-bono legal counsel. Another is offering medical services at a community clinic in an underserved neighborhood.

How Does Volunteer Work Pay Off for Members of the Black Community?

An article published by the University of Maryland’s Do Good Institute in April 2026 noted that America is home to 1.9 million nonprofits. It also cited data from a 2025 Urban Institute research, which stated that 75% of these organizations say volunteers are integral to their operations, with 23% even being completely dependent on volunteers.

All those figures underscore the value of volunteer work, which not only benefits the recipients of the charitable service but also those who provide it. Here’s how volunteers from Black communities can reap the fruits of their philanthropic work.

Personal Fulfillment

Volunteer work gives Black Americans a way to experience personal fulfillment because it ties them to kinship networks. Such social connections and interactions can provide a profound sense of intrinsic joy, something brought about by the act of supporting neighbors and those in need while also advocating for equity.

There’s also a sense of fulfillment in being able to empower the next generation through volunteering services. Members of the Black community, for instance, can commit their time to skills-based volunteer work, which lets them pass down knowledge, share skills, and foster cultural pride.

Volunteering also comes with potential health benefits. As explained by the University of Kentucky, giving back can make people feel better, as it supports physical, mental, and emotional health. It noted the findings of studies that show a connection between regular volunteering and:

Lower rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness
Higher life satisfaction and self-esteem
Lower blood pressure
Reduced inflammation
Improved heart health

Career Advancement and Portfolio Building

Volunteer work can open doors to career-advancing and skill-building opportunities. As members of the black community experience fulfillment and joy in helping others, they can also:

Gain hands-on experience in tasks or activities like project management and leadership
Close representation gaps, particularly in high-impact industries where there’s an underrepresentation of people of color
Forge vital connections (career, social, or networking)

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Are Volunteers Needed the Most?

The urgent need for volunteers often arises in areas that require crisis response and food security.

Natural disasters, for instance, often fuel the demand for volunteers, as they can cause sudden, widespread, and devastating effects that can overwhelm local professional responders and emergency services. They create an emergency need for extra hands to carry out tasks like food and water distribution, staffing emergency shelters, and search and rescue operations.

Areas with a high rate of food insecurity also welcome volunteers with open arms. In these scenarios, volunteers often assist with food preparation, packaging, sorting, and distribution.

What Is the Best Volunteering Activity?

There’s no “single” best volunteering activity, as it’s highly subjective and depends on a person’s specific interests, unique skills, and individual capacity.

In many cases, the most impactful and rewarding choices are those that align with someone’s passions, such as helping out at food banks or caring for animals at a shelter. It can also be sharing skills and knowledge through mentoring and leadership programs.

Consider Participating in Volunteer Work

While most volunteer work may not be lucrative, Black Americans who decide to participate in it often find it very rewarding and fulfilling. Giving back alone can already make you feel better, but it can also be a great way to develop and hone skills that can help advance your career or build your professional portfolio.

Read other informative guides like this or stay in the loop of the latest events in the Black community by checking out our most recent posts.

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Business

Top Strategies to Resolve Operational Issues Effectively

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Explore effective strategies to tackle operational issues and boost efficiency. Discover solutions that lead to smoother operations.

Published

2 days ago

July 23, 2026

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Operational issues are best resolved through a structured process that identifies the root cause, prioritizes the most urgent problems, improves communication, and tracks results over time. Businesses that respond quickly and make informed decisions can reduce costly disruptions, improve productivity, and create more reliable operations.

Minutes before an important client presentation, a company’s ordering system crashes, employees scramble to find missing information, and deadlines begin slipping one after another.

Operational challenges can arise without warning, but organizations that rely on clear processes, strong teamwork, and continuous improvement are far better prepared to solve problems before they become larger setbacks.

Why Is Identifying the Root Cause Important?

Addressing an operational issue without understanding its cause often leads to the problem recurring.

The underlying cause could involve:

Outdated procedures
Poor communication
Inadequate training
Inefficient workflows

Identifying the root cause allows businesses to solve problems permanently. Techniques like the following help uncover the factors that contributed to the issue:

Process mapping
Employee interviews
Performance reviews
Root cause analysis
Equipment and system checks
Workflow audits

After identifying the true source of the problem, organizations can install targeted improvements that create more efficient operations.

Learning From Past Mistakes

Taking the time to investigate major issues also helps organizations learn from mistakes. Each resolved problem becomes an opportunity to:

Refine processes
Update procedures
Improve employee training
Reduce the likelihood of similar disruptions
Identify recurring operational trends

How Do Outdated Systems Create Operational Problems?

Outdated systems can slow daily operations and make it harder for employees to complete their work efficiently. Older software may not integrate with newer applications. Aging hardware can fail frequently, disrupting productivity and delaying important projects.

Legacy systems also create challenges when businesses grow. As customer demands increase and workflows become more complex, older technology often struggles to keep pace. This can result in:

Manual data entry
Inconsistent reporting
Duplicated work
Greater risk of human error

Modernizing technology allows organizations to streamline processes while improving visibility into day-to-day operations. Many businesses are also adopting software testing with AI assistants to:

Identify defects earlier
Automate repetitive testing tasks
Evaluate updates before they affect production environments
Verify that existing features continue working after updates
Support faster and more reliable software releases

Testing new systems before implementation helps prevent unexpected disruptions.

Improve Communication Across Teams

Strong communication keeps daily operations moving efficiently and reduces the likelihood of costly mistakes. When departments work in isolation or rely on inconsistent updates, projects can fall behind schedule.

Information may be overlooked. Employees may duplicate work without realizing it.

Creating clear communication channels helps everyone understand priorities, responsibilities, and deadlines. Teams should establish consistent methods for:

Sharing project updates
Reporting operational concerns
Documenting decisions

That way, important information remains accessible.

Businesses can strengthen collaboration through practices such as:

Holding regular cross-departmental meetings
Using shared project management platforms
Clearly defining roles and responsibilities
Documenting workflow changes and procedures
Encouraging employees to report potential issues early
Sharing performance updates with relevant teams

Open communication also creates opportunities for continuous improvement. Employees working closest to day-to-day operations often recognize inefficiencies before managers do. Their feedback is valuable when refining processes.

Business Process Improvement: Leadership And Decision Making

Effective leadership plays a significant role in preventing operational issues from escalating. Leaders who make informed decisions promptly can:

Direct resources where they are needed
Resolve obstacles
Keep projects moving forward

Slow or inconsistent decision making often leads to confusion, delayed work, and lower productivity throughout the organization.

Good decision-making depends on accurate information rather than assumptions. Reviewing operational data and evaluating potential risks before implementing changes helps organizations choose long-term solutions.

Using Accountability and Collaboration For Operation Optimization Techniques

Strong leaders also create an environment where accountability and collaboration are valued. The following encourages teams to solve problems proactively instead of waiting for issues to become larger operational setbacks:

Setting clear expectations
Communicating priorities
Recognizing employee contributions
Responding quickly to emerging challenges

Have a Backup Plan

Planning for unexpected disruptions helps businesses recover while keeping essential services running. A well-developed backup plan defines priorities in advance. Teams can concentrate on restoring critical operations. They won’t have to worry about making urgent decisions during a crisis.

Every continuity plan should identify the resources and functions the organization cannot afford to lose for an extended period. This may include:

Customer support systems
Financial records
Production equipment
Essential business applications

Defining acceptable recovery time frames also helps guide investments in efficiency strategies.

A well-prepared backup plan often includes:

Secondary work locations for critical teams
Backup internet and communication options
Alternative transportation or delivery arrangements
Emergency contact lists for employees and vendors
Recovery priorities for essential business functions
Periodic reviews to account for organizational changes

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is Operational Scalability Important for Expanding Businesses?

Operational scalability enables a business to handle increasing workloads, customer volumes, and revenue. They don’t have to sacrifice efficiency or service quality.

As organizations expand, they often face greater demands on:

Employees
Technology
Supply chains
Internal processes

Scalable operations help accommodate that growth while reducing delays, bottlenecks, and unnecessary costs.

Businesses that plan for scalability are also better prepared to:

Introduce new products
Open additional locations
Enter new markets
Increase transaction volumes
Integrate new technologies more efficiently

How Can Benchmarking Help Improve Operational Performance?

Benchmarking helps improve operational performance by comparing a company’s processes, productivity, and results against industry standards or top-performing organizations. These comparisons can:

Reveal inefficiencies
Uncover opportunities for improvement
Highlight proven practices

Businesses should treat benchmarking as an ongoing process. Reviewing key performance indicators regularly allows leaders to measure progress.

They can set realistic goals. Plus, they can make informed decisions that improve efficiency, customer satisfaction, and overall operational performance over time.